AMD launches Z-01 Desna APU, specially designed for tablets

If you thought there aren’t enough APUs around, AMD is happy to fill the void. They recently introduced at Computex a new dual core processor, running at 1 GHZ bundled with Radeon HD 6250 discrete graphics, a package they’re calling Z-01 Desna.

Basically, it’s the C-50 processor already available under the Ontario label, with the Z-01 being optimized for tablets, especially for those running on Windows.

The platform has a 5.9W TDP, which is not necessarily a fantastic ratio, but improvements are likely to be noticed in performance. The Z-01 offers lower everyday performance than a dual core Atom processor, but has the advantage of built in HD graphics, as well as better power management. A blog post from a prominent AMD executive says that the new platform will allow for flawless 1080p playback, creating and editing documents will run fine (?) and there will be full compatibility with USB drives.

AMD also hails Bluestack, an application that lets you run Android on Windows, which sounds basically as a virtual machine, similar to the solution that lets you run Windows on iOS. As a treat, the platform is compatible with XBOX 360 Media Extender, which might imply that some synching between a tablet and a console is possible. The emulating technology was already showcased on an Iconia Tab W500 and AMD is basically encouraging this on tablets that will run their Z-01 APU.

http://www.netbooklive.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/AMD-Fusion-Logothumbmod.jpg

The first tablet to pack the Z-01 is the MSI 110W, which was announced to run on an AMD APU, with everyone thinking that the lucky winner will be the C-50. The tablet can support up to 4 GB of DDR3 RAM, has a 32 GB SSD, a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, 10 inch multi touch display, a 5 MP camera and runs on Windows 7 Home Premium. It has the standard line up of USB and HDMI ports, as well as WiFi, Bluetooth and a slot for connecting it to a docking station.

The Z-01 powered MSI 110W will be available for $600 in the US. We should expect a bunch of new tablets running on the same platform, probably most of them introduced during Computex. As we said, this doesn’t seem like a complete shocker, as it’s a C-50 in disguise, but let’s hope it comes with improved Windows functionality on tablets (if that’s at all possible before Windows 8).

Tags: AMD Fusion, dual core processor, MSI

Last updated: March 27, 2012 | Published: June 1st, 2011 | Add the first comment!